Rain Smith

KINGSPORT — A registered sex offender has been charged with indecent exposure by Kingsport police after a woman and her daughter allegedly observed him fondling himself in a parking lot.

Police say that when they approached the suspect's vehicle outside Walmart, he quickly sat up in his seat and pulled his shirt over his waist — while review of surveillance footage revealed an earlier "confrontation" with an angry male shopper.

The incident occurred at approximately 5 p.m. Saturday at the store on West Stone Drive. A woman told police that she was loading groceries into her vehicle when her daughter said a man parked next to them was looking at her.

At that point, according to an arrest report, the mother observed Micky J. Clark, 32, sitting inside a minivan. He allegedly had his penis exposed while masturbating.

A responding officer located the suspect's vehicle parked in row eight. When police approached the minivan, Clark allegedly sat up in the seat and attempted to cover himself. When asked for identification, Clark, of 2309 Amyx Ave., handed over a probation and parole sexual offender ID card.

A check of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation online sex offender database reveals Clark was convicted of attempted aggravated rape in November of 2000. He's classified as a violent offender.

Police say they pulled Walmart surveillance footage to discover another potential witness. Just prior to the arrival of police, a man reportedly "engaged in a confrontation" with Clark and is believed to have also observed him exposing himself.

Clark was arrested and booked into the city jail on charges of indecent exposure. The Tennessee Department of Probation and Parole was alerted to the incident.